There is but One God. His name is Truth; He is the Creator. He

The eternal words of Guru Nanak, the luminous founder of Sikhism, illuminate the path of the soul: “There is but One God. His name is Truth; He is the Creator. He fears none; he is without hate. He never dies; He is beyond the cycle of births and death. He is self-illuminated. He is realized by the kindness of the True Guru. He was True in the beginning; He was True when the ages commenced and has ever been True. He is also True now.” In this profound declaration, Guru Nanak reveals the nature of the divine: eternal, fearless, compassionate, and beyond the bounds of time. His words invite humanity to perceive God not through ritual alone, but through truth, understanding, and guidance from the enlightened.

The origin of this quote lies in the early 16th century, during a period of spiritual exploration and societal tumult in South Asia. Guru Nanak, born in 1469 in the Punjab region, sought to unify people beyond the divisions of caste, creed, and ritual. He traveled extensively, teaching that God is one, eternal, and beyond fear or hatred. By emphasizing the unity and truth of God, Guru Nanak challenged dogmas that divided society and called for a personal, experiential understanding of the divine through devotion and righteous living.

At the heart of this teaching is the concept of truth as the ultimate reality. By stating that God’s name is Truth, Guru Nanak elevates truth from a mere human virtue to the very essence of creation. Truth is eternal, unchanging, and self-illuminated; it is the light by which all beings may find their way. To seek God is, therefore, to seek truth in thought, word, and deed. This teaching transcends religious boundaries, offering guidance to any soul striving for understanding and moral clarity.

The role of the True Guru is central in this revelation. Guru Nanak emphasizes that God is realized not by intellectual speculation alone but through the guidance and kindness of an enlightened teacher. History is rich with examples: the Guru’s disciples, like Bhai Mardana, journeyed with him, learning to experience the divine through devotion, service, and observation of the Guru’s life. Their awakening illustrates that spiritual realization often flows through mentorship, guidance, and lived example, echoing the eternal truth that Nanak proclaimed.

Guru Nanak’s words also speak to the timelessness and universality of the divine. He asserts that God was true in the beginning, remains true now, and will continue to be true beyond the ages. This perspective dissolves the fear of mortality, the anxieties of change, and the divisions of the material world. By grounding existence in the eternal Truth, Guru Nanak teaches that the soul’s journey is part of a larger, harmonious reality, where death and rebirth are merely transitions, and God remains the constant anchor of life.

History offers living examples of this principle in action. The lives of the Sikh Gurus, who followed Nanak, were devoted to embodying truth, equality, and selfless service. They resisted oppression, served the poor, and inspired justice—all manifestations of realizing God through righteous action. These acts demonstrate that the eternal Truth is not abstract, but revealed in living ethically, serving humanity, and cultivating compassion. It is a lesson that God is understood through the alignment of inner virtue with outward deeds.

The emotional resonance of Guru Nanak’s words lies in their invitation to fearlessness and compassion. God “fears none; He is without hate,” and by reflecting these qualities in human life, one participates in the divine order. To live according to truth, guided by the wisdom of the Guru, is to align oneself with eternity, embracing courage, love, and service. This is not passive devotion but an active engagement with the world, recognizing God in every heart and every act of kindness.

From this, a clear lesson emerges: seek the eternal Truth, cultivate compassion, and embrace the guidance of those who illuminate the path. Align your words and deeds with righteousness, serve without discrimination, and trust that the divine is present beyond the boundaries of time, culture, or circumstance. Guru Nanak’s declaration is both a beacon and a challenge: to live a life of integrity, devotion, and fearless love, and through this, to touch the eternal, unchanging Truth that governs the universe.